Family says sentence fair for father of 3-year-old killed in crash

By CAITLIN BYRDTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at 12:19 p.m.

ASHEVILLE — Kristie Worley leaned forward, brought a delicate piece of gold jewelry to her lips and gave it a kiss Tuesday, moments before her ex-husband was sentenced to 21 months in prison in connection with the death of their 3-year-old daughter.

Worley purchased what she calls her “Maddie necklace” on Dec. 14, the day after Madeline Jones died. That was two days after her now ex-husband, David Nathan Jones of Hendersonville, 38, picked up Maddie and started the series of events leading to her death.

On Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Bill Coward sentenced Jones to 21 months in prison and three years of probation. He also was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay $8,000 in restitution to the Worley family.

According to police investigators, on Dec. 12, Jones got behind the wheel of his 2007 Ford Fusion with the child restrained in the passenger seat, drove east on Hilliard Avenue and drove erratically. Jones sideswiped a vehicle, then ran off the road and onto an embankment. His car went airborne, flew about 150 feet in the air and crashed into a parking lot, striking two more cars and city of Asheville employee Bobby Edwards.

Sitting two rows back from Worley in the courtroom on Tuesday, Edwards’ fiancee, Jennifer Pruitt, leaned closer to hear the verdict as her cousin and friend wrapped their arms around her. After the crash last year, Edwards was sent to Mission Hospital with severe injuries, including a shattered left leg that later was amputated.

Also in the courtroom was Jones’ mother, Connie Sargent, sitting next to her son, and Jones’ brother, Kevin Sargent. Like Pruitt, she dabbed her eyes with a tissue on and off throughout the sentencing hearing.

Though on separate sides of the courtroom, both families agreed that Jones’ sentence was fair. He faced a maximum of 12 years in prison after pleading guilty.

Connie Sargent said her son had a seizure and lost control of the car.

“She was his world,” Sargent said of her granddaughter. “He loved her more than anything.”

Whether they were in the courtroom to support Worley, Pruitt or Jones, all mourned the loss of a beloved child.

Running her fingers over the part of the necklace engraved with the words “My baby flies with angels,” Worley said, “There’s no amount of time the courts could give me that would bring back my daughter.”

Worley’s sister, Kim Metcalf, said she was glad there was no jury trial.

“It gets us to the point of closure quicker,” Metcalf said.

Pruitt, though, said she worries that her husbandto- be still has a long way to go before he can find that closure. Edwards and Pruitt share a connection with Worley because both of the women had daughters born within 10 days of each other.

“They favored each other, and I know he looks at our daughter and he sees Maddie,” Pruitt said of Edwards. “He has a lot of guilt. He says he wishes that he would have been killed, not her.”

Jones’ lawyer, Faye Burner, argued Monday and reiterated Tuesday the family’s belief that Jones was not in control of his actions.

“Judge, this is a perfect example of someone just going through life and all of the sudden something terrible happens. There’s no other explanation that really makes sense,” Burner said.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Assistant District Attorney Chris Hess questioned Highway Patrol Trooper Robert Grayson about computer data extracted from Jones’ vehicle. The 11-page report generated contains information about the car’s acceleration, braking and steering in the moments before the wreck.

Grayson said Jones did not change gears as his car accelerated to upward of 91 mph on Hilliard Avenue. The data also showed Jones did not brake after he drove through the intersection of Hilliard and Biltmore avenues and onto South Market Street, where the vehicle flew over an embankment.

“My opinion would be the driver was in control of the vehicle,” Grayson said. “He’s making decisions about whether to accelerate or slow down.”

Following the sentencing, Kevin Sargent said, “I’ve been around him countless times when he has had a seizure, and I know his body language and how he acts, what he does (when he has a seizure). There’s no way to scientifically prove that he did have a seizure, but honestly I do feel in my heart that he did. He would never do this on purpose. He’s not that kind of man.”

After Tuesday’s ruling, Worley said there’s only one way her family can go.

<p>ASHEVILLE — Kristie Worley leaned forward, brought a delicate piece of gold jewelry to her lips and gave it a kiss Tuesday, moments before her ex-husband was sentenced to 21 months in prison in connection with the death of their 3-year-old daughter.</p><p>Worley purchased what she calls her “Maddie necklace” on Dec. 14, the day after Madeline Jones died. That was two days after her now ex-husband, David Nathan Jones of Hendersonville, 38, picked up Maddie and started the series of events leading to her death.</p><p>Jones pleaded guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, driving with a revoked license and misdemeanor hit and run involving property damage.</p><p> On Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Bill Coward sentenced Jones to 21 months in prison and three years of probation. He also was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay $8,000 in restitution to the Worley family.</p><p> According to police investigators, on Dec. 12, Jones got behind the wheel of his 2007 Ford Fusion with the child restrained in the passenger seat, drove east on Hilliard Avenue and drove erratically. Jones sideswiped a vehicle, then ran off the road and onto an embankment. His car went airborne, flew about 150 feet in the air and crashed into a parking lot, striking two more cars and city of Asheville employee Bobby Edwards.</p><p> Sitting two rows back from Worley in the courtroom on Tuesday, Edwards' fiancee, Jennifer Pruitt, leaned closer to hear the verdict as her cousin and friend wrapped their arms around her. After the crash last year, Edwards was sent to Mission Hospital with severe injuries, including a shattered left leg that later was amputated. </p><p> Also in the courtroom was Jones' mother, Connie Sargent, sitting next to her son, and Jones' brother, Kevin Sargent. Like Pruitt, she dabbed her eyes with a tissue on and off throughout the sentencing hearing. </p><p> Though on separate sides of the courtroom, both families agreed that Jones' sentence was fair. He faced a maximum of 12 years in prison after pleading guilty. </p><p> Connie Sargent said her son had a seizure and lost control of the car. </p><p>“She was his world,” Sargent said of her granddaughter. “He loved her more than anything.” </p><p>Whether they were in the courtroom to support Worley, Pruitt or Jones, all mourned the loss of a beloved child. </p><p> Running her fingers over the part of the necklace engraved with the words “My baby flies with angels,” Worley said, “There's no amount of time the courts could give me that would bring back my daughter.” </p><p>Worley's sister, Kim Metcalf, said she was glad there was no jury trial. </p><p>“It gets us to the point of closure quicker,” Metcalf said. </p><p> Pruitt, though, said she worries that her husbandto- be still has a long way to go before he can find that closure. Edwards and Pruitt share a connection with Worley because both of the women had daughters born within 10 days of each other. </p><p>“They favored each other, and I know he looks at our daughter and he sees Maddie,” Pruitt said of Edwards. “He has a lot of guilt. He says he wishes that he would have been killed, not her.” </p><p>Jones' lawyer, Faye Burner, argued Monday and reiterated Tuesday the family's belief that Jones was not in control of his actions. </p><p>“Judge, this is a perfect example of someone just going through life and all of the sudden something terrible happens. There's no other explanation that really makes sense,” Burner said. </p><p> During Tuesday's hearing, Assistant District Attorney Chris Hess questioned Highway Patrol Trooper Robert Grayson about computer data extracted from Jones' vehicle. The 11-page report generated contains information about the car's acceleration, braking and steering in the moments before the wreck. </p><p> Grayson said Jones did not change gears as his car accelerated to upward of 91 mph on Hilliard Avenue. The data also showed Jones did not brake after he drove through the intersection of Hilliard and Biltmore avenues and onto South Market Street, where the vehicle flew over an embankment. </p><p>“My opinion would be the driver was in control of the vehicle,” Grayson said. “He's making decisions about whether to accelerate or slow down.” </p><p>Following the sentencing, Kevin Sargent said, “I've been around him countless times when he has had a seizure, and I know his body language and how he acts, what he does (when he has a seizure). There's no way to scientifically prove that he did have a seizure, but honestly I do feel in my heart that he did. He would never do this on purpose. He's not that kind of man.” </p><p>After Tuesday's ruling, Worley said there's only one way her family can go. </p><p>She said, “We have to move forward.”</p>